The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1887-1896, 1887-03-20


urcs were disccrnible, clustered in loose order
round large lumber wagon behind the sta
ton. Most OF these men wefo employed In
various capacities by Hanson and others OF our
party and all wore the ominous black badge,
No word OF greeting passed between us, how.
ever, and we marched steadily on to the door OF
tho hotel Cartright knocked smaftly three
times, and as he did so we covered every win
dow In the place with our firearms, the judge
pointing his weapon at the door, so that the
first thing seen by the man who opened II was
the muzzlc Of q revolver. lie looked intensely
scared, this unfortunate man, as he saw this
grim array. could scarcely recognize the
complacent Judge OF the afternoon, in the
trembling creature who tried 10 assure his
Lyncb-law brother that Cobbctt and Grobc had
gone East by the midnight train. Cartrigbte
rough answer, however of "Show us up to
their ROOM Mr.. Standard" followed by the
brief order, "Plug him, Mike, II he says another
word !" brought the apologies TO a sudden con
clusion; aud with q dcspairng shrug OF the
shoulders, as he recognized the desperate, the
man slowly led the way up stairs; Judge Lynch,
Hanson, Mike Alison, and two Of IIansop's men
followed him closely.
The rest OF us remained outside, and watched
the wagon brought round to the door. Pres
emily there was n stir In the houses round
about, and faces appeared at windows, They
were promptly covered; upon which their
owners hastily dressed themselves, and Joined
the crowd stationed near the wagon A little
later quickly-stepping figures began to come up
In twos and three from the outskirts OF the
town, as the news of what was on hand spread
abroad, and Il was not. long before unmasked
folk formed large majority Of the assembly.
But close around the wagon, In a compact ring,
stood the Lynching party, shoulder to shoulder,
with cleaning firearms, In grim defiance of any
protest or interference.
We werc all silent rs We waited for those in
side to reappcar, but IL was impossible not to
he conscious of the fact that there was a section
of the crowd, armed like ourselves and now
| rtt.tr HAT
lenly opposed to what was going on Az first
only few muttercd curses were to be heard,
which died away as new men came up whose
feelings were not known. But gradually these
angry murmur, which II seemed only too prob
able would become an organized assault upon
the appearance of the prisoners.
The prospect was not cheerful. There were
twenty Of us, all told, and nifty people stood
apparently ready for charge the moment there
was a favorable opportunity. cannot re-
member, however, feeling nervous or fright
ened. We were there for purpose, and until
that purpose was accomplished our lives were of
| no Importance That was our one thought. As
the murmur rose higher and became more me-
nacing, u burly fellow standing next to me
answered 1t by an order to our men, short and
to the point: "Boys, mark your men. now, and
fire when give the word" Every revolver
was instantly pointed at some individual mem
Der of the unmasked. The effect was magical.
The angry murmurs ceased, and there was n
quick rctrogrnde movement, causing space of
several yards to be made between the persons
of the prisoners friends and the revolvers of
the Lynching party.
| A light was now seen ilIckering IN the hall of
the hotel, and VIC could hear heavy steps de-
scending the stairs. The two men stationed In
placing their knives between their teeth TO
| have their hands quite free. The crowd re-
mnined silent, straining their eyes to sec Cob
bett and Grobe brought out. Now four men,
followed by the judge, came slowly along the
passage, kept clear by our revolvers, with two
forms bound hand and foot, which they hoisted
into the wagon. AT this sight the murmur of
the crowd rose to q shrek, and we thought our
time had come. Obeying the order of the judge
four of lis turned our backs upon the crowd
and stood over the prisoners, waiting for the
first shot to be fired But, our fingers tight
| ened round the locks of our pistols and the
handles of our knives the voice of Mike Alison,
| deep and sonorous, rang out above the tumult,
and silenced II.
"Boys shut down ON this. Dye think I'd
take a share in the business II there weren't
good reason for II II any man of yc can
stand out and say Goblet and Grobc Amt the
blamedest ours In this country and didn't kill Ed
Hanson let him do It and I'll put us many holes
through him as there are balls in my six
shooters. There! Do you understand"
As he spoke the desperate had sprung into
the wagon, and stood In the full light of the
moon, glaring dcflantly at the crowd, cooked
revolver In either hand. This action had an
immediate result of n most wholesome kind
At least half our foes admired Mike Alison per-
the rest would us soon have thought of accept
ing his challenge as Of driving knives between
their own ribs So the opposition to our move
mcnts collapsed as suddenly MS 1t had begun.
From this moment the crowd which surged
around us was of perfectly peaceful character.
The wagon was now put into motion, and We
moved down Grand avenue at foots pace
toward IIolt't ranch, n deserted homestead on the
outskirts of the town The place was reached
In fifteen minutes, and another detachment of
masked men, who had just completed the con
struction of the gibbct-a rough framework of
poes-joined the main body. The crowd now
came TO standstill, rs the wagon passed
slowly on few PAGES, and then stopped ex-
actly under the crossbar of the gibbct, from
which hung two pieces of rope.
The Ond was close at hand. For the first time
my flesh began to creep, and the hand that held
my revolver trembled violently, in spite of
every effort to keep 1t still. Disposed In huge
circle the crowd stood round us-calm, stolid,
inactive-waiting to see the end. I looked in
vain for q face that expressed any of the horror
of which knew my own was full. In the cen
tire of space of some twenty square yards,
kept clear around the gibbet, stood the Judge,
Tom Hanson, and Mike Alison, watching the
men In the wagon who were making the prison
crs ready for their fate. So far the poor
wretchcs had uttered no kind of protest OF
prayers for mercy. No one knew better than
they the hopelessness of such thing. But at
this moment I heard the voice of one raised in
urgent cntreaty to the man adjusting the ropes,
in response to which he was loosed for mo-
ment. Lcapng from the wagon, he threw him.
self at the feet of the Judge, and gasped out
, some innudiblc prayer In a hoarse whisper.
Cartrght stood like pillar of stone
"NIercy!'' he said sternly. "You ask fol
, mercy' What mercy did you show to Edward
81 don't want mercy" interrupted the pris
oner. ~ deserve DEATH wish for 1t. But
Judge for Gods sake shoot me, or cut me In
picces--I don't care which: don't let me hang
will hear of II, and the disgrace will break hel
heart He stopped, choked by heavy convu
sive sobs.
Cartrlght paused before he answered. slim
/ Grobe, have passed sentence upon YOU, and
could not commute 1t II would. But in these
| cases an appeal may be made to the person most
injured by the crime. Tom Hanson turning
to his friend, "itisin yourhand Shall Grobe't
wish be granted?'
( There was another pause. Hanson made
i step forward, and laid his hand heavily on the
| shoulder Of his brothers. murderer, saying
huskily: sis this true about your mother''
: Before the man could reply Mike Alison In
, terposcd in his quick, decided way--"Ycs,
/: can vouch for It,"
i 'Then," said the ranchman slowly and heav
lily, while the silence of tho crowd might b.
almost felt, 'yoummayE CD ,,aU , y, u,.,
g Ing IIanson's hand. Then he stood erect nnt
Y turned to the desperate with smile. "GOod
Il bye, Mike. You've been good friend TO me
Q II had taken your advice--but it's too lat
}, now Judge, set your men. Steady there
/, boys, with your rcvolvers; don't aim too high
/. Now I'm ready Fire ~
When the sun rose, half an hour later, all wa
l. over. The murdercrs of Edward Hanson ha
n gone before a higher tribunal than ours, and tn
v work of Judge Lynch and his Court OF Appea
J. was done.-1. H. Paterson IN Macmillan
70 Magd-inc.
The True Lady.
&c Youths COmpanion.l
y 4 story Is told of a woman who contrived dl
y ring several hours to occupy with her sotchcl
u and shawls two seats In u crowded car Of
y train on n Western railroad. Old women an
u ladies with children In turn stood looking ~
J, pcalngly at her, unable to find n seat. But he
re stately manner and naughty stare daunted then
Tho a without fun